Current Affairs Questions on 21, 22 May 2016 :
What is the name of the cyclonic storm that hit Bay of Bengal in May 2016 bringing in heavy damage in Sri Lanka and huge rains in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha?
A. Al-Neeno
B. Faison
C. Roanu
D. Tornedo
Answer: C
Explanation: Roanu is the first tropical cyclone of the annual cyclone season. It originated from a low pressure area that formed south of Sri Lanka. It gradually drifted north and intensified into a cyclonic storm. It was classified as a depression by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on 17 May 2016. On 19 May it was classified as a severe cyclonic storm. It brought huge damage in Sri Lanka resulting in death of at least 58 persons. In India it mainly affected Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. It also brought heavy rains in West Bengal. Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam (all Andhra Pradesh) received huge rains due to Roanu.

Which companies have dropped plans to step up a payments bank in the country?
A. Telenor
B. IDFC
C. Sun Pharmaceuticals
D. All of above
Answer: D
Explanation: Dilip Shanghvi, the founder and managing director of Sun Pharmaceuticals, IDFC Bank and Telenor have made plans to pull out of the payments banks race after getting permission from RBI for the same. Shanghai along with Telenor Financial Services and IDFC Bank were granted in-principle approval to form a payments bank, by the RBI. A payments bank is a differentiated bank that confines activities to acceptance of demand deposits, remittance services and other specified services.

Who was appointed the new Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry on 22 May 2016?
A. Kiran Bedi
B. Subhash Chandra
C. Rajat Sharma
D. Anupam Kher
Answer: A
Explanation: The Union Govt. on 22 May 2016 appointed Kiran Bedi, the country’s first woman IPS officer and the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate in the Delhi Assembly elections last year, as the new Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. The post of Puducherry Lt. Governor was under the additional charge of Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Ajay Singh for nearly two years. The government had sacked UPA nominee Virendra Kataria on 11 July 2014. After 35 years in police service, the IPS officer joined the BJP in January last year and was projected as the party’s chief ministerial candidate in Delhi. After the BJP was routed by the Aam Aadmi Party in the state, the party’s decision to project Bedi as the CM candidate was criticised.

Who has been elected as the new President of Taiwan, becoming its first female leader to do so?
A. Tsai Ing-wen
B. Tsai Ing-ten
C. Tsai Ting-jen
D. Tsai Ting-wen
Answer: A
Explanation: Tsai Ing wen has been sworn in as the new president of Taiwan, becoming its first female leader and calling for positive dialogue with Beijing. Tsai is an unassuming and determined leader leading the DPP to a landslide win in January elections. DPP has leaned towards independence from China which sees Taiwan as a breakaway province. Tsai was sworn in before being presented with a official seal. Beijing is keen to be an ally with Taiwan currently. Tsai’s election win for the second ever for the DPP- Kuomintang which has been in power for 70 years

Who was unanimously elected as the New President of the BCCI on 22 May 2016 ?
A. Ajay Shirke
B. Shashank Manohar
C. Anurag Thakur
D. Arun Jaitley
Answer: C
Explanation: 41-year old Anurag Thakur on 22 May 2016 became the youngest-ever President of BCCI after he was unanimously elected for this post. He replaced Shashank Manohar who quit the position to take up the International Cricket Council (ICC) chief’s job. Manohar’s exit from the top post barely seven months into his tenure has necessitated the election of the new chief of the world’s richest and most powerful cricket body. Anurag Thakur is also a Bharatiya Janata Party MP in Lok Sabha. He takes over BCCI’s reins of the embattled Board in rather tough times as the BCCI is facing heat from the Supreme Court to implement the Justice R.M. Lodha Committee’s recommendations for sweeping reforms. On the other hand Ajay Shirke made his return to BCCI as he was elected as board’s Secretary. He was earlier treasurer of the board and had resigned from his post in May 2013, protesting the manner in which N. Srinivasan’s regime had handled the IPL corruption scandal.